Sacroiliac Joint Injection

The sacroiliac (SI) joint is located at the bottom of your spine where it connects to your pelvis. Damage and inflammation to the joint can cause back and leg pain. If you’re in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, your doctor at Summit Orthopedics might recommend an SI joint injection as part of a comprehensive pain management plan.

What Are SI Joint Injections?

During an SI joint injection, also called an SI injection, your doctor uses a needle to put a small amount of local anesthetic and a steroid into the sacroiliac joint. The local anesthetic works quickly to provide temporary pain relief. The steroid then helps reduce inflammation and swelling within the joint.

Many people who get SI joint injections experience relief for months after the injection.

Benefits of SI Joint Injections

One of the main goals of SI joint injections is to reduce swelling of the SI joint and relieve your lower back pain. People often find that with less back pain, they can resume some of their normal daily activities. Additional benefits include:

Nonsurgical pain relief
Potential to offer immediate relief
Quick, outpatient procedure—allowing you to return home on the same day

Why You Might Need an SI Joint Injection

You might need an SI joint injection if you’re experiencing pain in your lower back that your doctor diagnoses as sacroiliac joint pain. This type of injection can also be helpful for some individuals who develop discomfort after spinal fusion surgery. There are also other spinal conditions, like arthritis, that can lead to the need for SI joint injections to alleviate pain.

What to Expect

Before the injection, your care team will prepare you by thoroughly cleaning the injection site. Then, you’ll lie on your stomach while your doctor uses a special type of X-ray called fluoroscopy to find the injection site. Your blood pressure and heart rate will be monitored throughout the procedure to ensure your safety.

The injection takes about five to 10 minutes to complete. You should plan to be at the medical center for an hour to allow time for preparation and recovery.

How Painful Is an SI Joint Injection?

The procedure feels similar to getting a flu shot. There may be mild, temporary discomfort. To help with any discomfort, your doctor numbs your skin and tissues so you don’t feel too much pain.

How Long Does It Take to Recover?

Recovery time is minimal. You should be able to return to work and your normal activities on the same day.

Risks of SI Joint Injections

There are some risks associated with any procedures involving needles, including sacroiliac joint injections. These include:

Bleeding
Infection
Temporary numbness

You can help reduce the risk of infection by following your care team’s instructions.

Cortisone also has side effects, such as an increase in blood sugar levels if you have diabetes, red facial flush and water retention.

Recovery

Right after your procedure, you’ll recover in the clinic for 15 to 30 minutes. Your care team will monitor you and make sure you’re doing well after the injection. You might experience immediate pain relief, but it’s common for this to wear off, leading to some soreness over the next couple of days.

The full benefits of the steroid medication, which aims to reduce inflammation and provide longer-lasting relief, typically begin to take effect within one to two weeks following the injection.